GOE REACTION TO HRC OBJECTIVES

UNCLAS QUITO 000575 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL AORC SNAR UN CO EC SUBJECT: GOE REACTION TO HRC OBJECTIVES REF: STATE 26833 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel points on March 9 to Lourdes Puma Puma, MFA Director General for multilateral affairs. Puma confirmed that Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinoza will attend the opening sessions of the Human Rights Council, as well as the disarmament commission. Response to USG Priorities -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Burma: The GOE agrees in principal with USG position on Burma. The GOE hopes that swift action is taken. ¶3. (SBU) Sudan: The GOE continues to support the Assessment Mission's visit to Sudan and will support any proposals in the Human Rights Council that are designed to help those who are suffering in Sudan. Puma expressed her hope that the Mission's reports would be unbiased and fair. ¶4. (SBU) Country Specific Mandates: Puma described this set of issues as complex and did not commit the GOE. She said the GOE links the Country Specific Mandates directly to the overall institution building of the Council. The GOE does not want to see the Council politicized (as it believes the Human Rights Commission was) and wants to be certain that each Country Specific Mandate is dealt with fairly and thoroughly. The GOE hopes to reach consensus on this issue with its Latin American neighbors. FM Espinosa will touch on this topic in her remarks. ¶5. (SBU) Israel: The GOE feels strongly that Israel must be treated fairly and given a reasonable hearing at the Human Rights Council. Puma was sympathetic to the view that past Commission action was stacked against Israel, but asserted the GOE position that there have been human rights violations committed by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The GOE will reserve its judgment on the matter for the time being. ¶6. (SBU) Protection of Freedom of Expression: Highlighting the freedom of the press in Ecuador, Puma stated that Ecuador will always work to protect freedom of expression throughout the world. In general, the GOE does not except the defamation of religion. The GOE is committed to preserving freedom of speech, so long as an individual's speech does not violate another person's rights. GOE Priorities -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The GOE will highlight its positions in favor of Council institutional reform, particularly the establishment of a transparent work plan and on country specific mandates. FM Espinosa and the GOE delegation will also raise the issue of Colombia's aerial coca fumigation along the border with Ecuador as a violation of the human rights of affected Ecuadorians. JEWELL